The list of devices receiving the update says two things about Samsung: first, it's not too bad about providing continued support compared to other Android OEMs, at least for its most popular handsets. A two-year support window seems to be a reasonable expectation, if you buy new devices around the time they're released. Second, it offers a truly dizzying array of phones and tablets that would confuse even the most informed consumer (I had to Google the Galaxy Light before I even knew what it was). Other handset makers, like HTC, whom we'll pick on only because it provided us a recent and prominent example, seem to have trouble keeping even their flagship phones updated for that long. Even though we don't have a release window for any of Samsung's updates yet, this is good news for most of its customers.

Aside from the under-the-hood upgrades included with KitKat, updated devices will receive a handful of Samsung-specific features, including a new Location Menu, an "Enhanced Messaging" function that will allow you to choose between Samsung's Messages app or Google Hangouts for texting and will support a wider number of emojis, and upgraded Google (GMS) apps. Samsung's Android 4.3 update, which has already rolled out to a fair number of the listed devices, included a handful of other features, including support for the Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

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Andrew Cunningham
Andrew wrote and edited tech news and reviews at Ars Technica from 2012 to 2017, where he still occasionally freelances; he is currently a lead editor at Wirecutter. He also records a weekly book podcast called Overdue. Twitter@AndrewWrites

80 Reader Comments

It is sad that we are supposed to be happy to get an update four or more months after Google has released it.

I went from a Galaxy S III to a Nexus 5. It will take one hell of a phone for me to switch from the Nexus line.

Keep in mind Google releasing a new OS version is essentially them going "Here you are OEMs, you may now start testing to see if our new codebase even so much as works with your products still~!" Then they get to start applying and fixing all their patches to it so that the update seems coherent compared to what was already on the phones (skins, bloat, etc.)

I'm surprised that so many people here, on a tech site, aren't running something like CyanogenMod if timely updates to the OS is that important to them.P

Heartily seconded! I've downloaded and installed 6 Cyanogen updates in the 7 months since I bought my Galaxy S4. Updating is even easier than installing it the first time (barring one update where I had to separately update the Play Store and other Google apps). It was actually kind of shocking to me just how far behind the official firmware is.

If you care about updates, going for a popular custom firmware like CyanogenMod is the way to go. The sad downside is that you sometimes need to navigate various shady-looking sites or follow arcane instructions for how to root your phone originally. (It's reassuring that Cyanogen's first move after incorporating was to tackle this problem, even if Google blocked them.) Still, if you're bold enough to give it a shot, it's not that hard in practice.

I bought my wife an S3 (Sprint) in October. First thing I did was install CyanogenMod. Ended up returning to crappy stock. We decided to go with an MVNO (Ring Plus) which uses Sprint's network but costs us around $11/month. We had issues getting it provisioned for the first week or two. Part of the troubleshooting process required reregistration and then doing PRU updates. At the time (and still, as far as I know) that functionality was not accessible through CyanogenMod so I said. "Screw it", put stock back, and had access to the Update PRU and other related functions.

Tempted to put CM back on but I know as soon as I do I'll need to do a PRU update for some stupid reason.

and this is *first* time that Samsung have ever changed from their "new product? let's not support the old ones" principle.

Can't speak to the rest of your products but to suggest Samsung didn't update the s2 is a ridiculous. The phone launched in April 2011 with Gingerbread {2.3} and received updates until April 2013 with Jellybean {4.1.2}. Now maybe the American carriers were different?? My phone was the international model and for a non nexus android phone to receive to full years of updates {especially at the time} was almost unheard of.

Google could force manufacturers to release Android updates through the same licencing agreement they use for the Google apps. Specify that updates must be available to end users within three months of release by Google. If Samsung can't make their bloatware work by then then then they should release Android without it.

It is sad that we are supposed to be happy to get an update four or more months after Google has released it.

I went from a Galaxy S III to a Nexus 5. It will take one hell of a phone for me to switch from the Nexus line.

Keep in mind Google releasing a new OS version is essentially them going "Here you are OEMs, you may now start testing to see if our new codebase even so much as works with your products still~!" Then they get to start applying and fixing all their patches to it so that the update seems coherent compared to what was already on the phones (skins, bloat, etc.)

And then the OEMs releasing it to the carriers... All this lag for a bunch of bloatware.

I think Google moves to get their core products in userland over the last few releases have really made upgrades less of a big deal than they used to be. Back in the CupCake days there were plenty of bugs that caused a lot of problems, and the manufacturers were using updates to fix hardware issues along with adding features. These days the phone out of the box is stable and generally will work with any app in the store, so updates become refinements instead of repairs.

Cyanogenmod has been supporting Galaxy S3 models with 4.4.2 for a while now. Bonuses: no Samsung bloat + Privacy Guard.

CyanogenMod has been nothing but broken on my S3 since I got it. I have yet to have a fully working version (with the latest CM10 being the most stable) and the CM11 builds not even booting (it gets locked in an infinite boot/reset loop), and the earlier CM10 versions not working with the camera, or some other hardware failure (some not booting at all). Add that to the fact that they change vanilla Android (including the launcher) as much as any OEM does have left me very jaded about the whole CM experience. I might be looking at a Google Edition phone for my next purchase, as much as I love my S3.

I'm surprised that so many people here, on a tech site, aren't running something like CyanogenMod if timely updates to the OS is that important to them.

For me, personally, it is. That's why I installed CM pretty much the day after I bought my GS3, and why I keep it updated. I've been running KK for a few months now. I believe CM11 came out about a month after KK was released.

Installing CM is incredibly easy.

N.B. I have no stake in CM, other than as a huge fan

CM10 has been broken from day one on my S3 (got one fairly late in its life). From day one the camera didn't work (any app that used it crashed instantly) and from there each version fixed something and broke something else. Currently I am on CM10 (the latest stable) which does work with all the hardware (after a year? of updates) but a few of the games I enjoy don't run on it at all. CM11 which doesn't have an official stable release yet (just nigthtlies) won't even boot. I do not recommend, for anyone that wants a device that just works, to use CM, based on my experiences with it on the S3, on my Droid Bionic, on my Galaxy Tab 10.1 (which never had a working camera on CM for the entire time I had the device) and on my G2.

As a disclaimer I don't blame CM, trying to reverse engineer support for hundreds of devices is just a monumental task which is exacerbated when the same device updates internal hardware (like the later models of the S3). Its a juggling act and I have just grown tired of things breaking or not working at all.

Tempted to put CM back on but I know as soon as I do I'll need to do a PRU update for some stupid reason.

Can you just do nandroid backups? I kept a stock one around for that very purpose. Need to update things or activate so I'd do a backup on CM, restore on the manufacturer supplied rom (or one based on it), do the updates, restore the CM backup.

Quote:

I do not recommend, for anyone that wants a device that just works, to use CM, based on my experiences with it on the S3, on my Droid Bionic, on my Galaxy Tab 10.1 (which never had a working camera on CM for the entire time I had the device) and on my G2.

Exactly my experiences. Data, camera, bluetooth, GPS, something was always wrong. As much as I hated, despised HTC's Sense 4 and how badly it crippled my phone, especially with multitasking, it was better than all the broken or slightly off parts of CM.

This is great new for my Note 10.1 2012 Edition. Great news indeed. Just when I was about to give up on Samsung updating my much loved tablet.

Unfortunately they are really slow about rolling out the updates, and they load them up with a lot of garbage. It will make it easier for aftermarket rom developers to get KitKat working correctly.

I switched our note 10.1s (his and hers) and my phone form Samsung's rom last year and am enjoying much better battery life, far more features and don't have the Samsung (and Google) apps I don't want.

All I can say is it must suck to not be able to get CM working... I've put in on a Galaxy Ace 2 and an S4 mini. But installed first time and work pretty much flawlessly as far as I can tell - okay, HDR on the S4 mini doesn't work (and I've heard that in-cal volume on the Ace 2 is low - pun not intended - but I've not used it as phone since upgrading). Battery life on 10.2 was tolerable but not great, but that was fixed when it updated to 10.2.1, a process which only required me to press a button. Top work.

It's a shame checking compatibility is made so difficult by the legion of slightly different devices given the same outward-facing name.- at least I assume that's the the root of the problem.

May i ask: what's the deal with having the latest OS update right after it comes out ?

I mean, i know there are, almost always, good things in the last OS. Better memory management, some fancier icons, multiwindow aps, etc. But overall, what's the big point in being fully up to date (as of OS) ? will my "cell phone user experience " be radically diminished if i don't have kitkat ? they still have the same setup (just different layout), Google now (for those who love it), phone app, etc. I mean i has all the stuff it previously had just fancier or may be better organized i agree.

My S3 works great. I can do calls, play, chat, all i want on a cell phone. I can install practically all latest apps, i'm not getting an "unsupported android version" message. And battery lasts they way a Samsung 4.8" smartphone from 2013 works: it can barely hold charge for a day if using LTE. I don't like it but hey i bought it knowing what i was getting. I'd love to get 10% more battery but it simply won't happen from the software point of view. And even if it does, it would mean something like one extra hour of battery which doesn't really solves the problem (i did it by getting a charger case)

I know the Android maker Google gets new stuff every x amount of time. But i don't want a nexus. I want to use a SD because data is way too expensive on Canada. Plus, i like it more. So why so much whining about Samsung not updating a cell phone that, overall, works as expected ?

May i ask: what's the deal with having the latest OS update right after it comes out ?

When I had a Moto Atrix 4G, it was stuck on 2.2 (or maybe 2.3), but I needed v3 to run the Chrome browser. The AT&T browser that came with teh Atrix was awful, but I was stuck with it because AT&T & Moto refused to upgrade the OS and Chrome would not run on my version of Android.

Recently-released attack code exploiting a critical Android vulnerability gives attackers a point-and-click interface for hacking a majority of smartphones and tablets that run the Google operating system, its creators said.

The attack was published last week as a module to the open-source Metasploit exploit framework used by security professionals and hackers alike. The code exploits a critical bug in Android's WebView programming interface that was disclosed 14 months ago. The security hole typically gives attackers remote access to a phone's camera and file system and in some cases also exposes other resources, such as geographic location data, SD card contents, and address books. Google patched the vulnerability in November with the release of Android 4.2, but according to the company's figures, the fix is installed on well under half of the handsets it tracks.

May i ask: what's the deal with having the latest OS update right after it comes out ?

Would you feel the same way if your Mac or Windows machine had to wait on the OEM to update the OS for critical security patches?

I mean, if your PC "works as expected," then who cares, right?

Actually, my PC is a win 7 with no SP yet. I just install some updates as they come, i just don't want to bloat my machine again. And yes i think i will remain with it for at least 4-5 years more until windows 9-10 comes out and maybe i will be interested.

And my previous XP lasted until 2010. And it worked great. Since 1997 when i began with computers i've had 5 viruses: two because of floppies (3.5") and the others were browser companions. I don't use firewall btw just avg or avast in some other pc's. I'm under my linux box

But anyway, that's not the point: you can't compare a windows service pack or a single update (politically correct word for "bugfix patch") against a cell phone OS update. Unless it's a major OS flaw which could render your cell phone unusable or zombie, most android OS updates are about improving UX and providing better ways to do something (less space, faster processing, better looking apps, better memory management, etc.). For sure there should be some bug fixing like when a given app always crashes on a given cellphone/OS version. Or for example when Iphone 4 owners couldn't install fb app because they needed OS 6. And even though that's a major OS update which generally means a big architecture change.

And yes, if my pc runs ok, get no viruses, is fast enough and i can run almost all programs and games i can (crysis 2 being the latest - sorry my cpu and video can't support more) i see no reason to change

May i ask: what's the deal with having the latest OS update right after it comes out ?

When I had a Moto Atrix 4G, it was stuck on 2.2 (or maybe 2.3), but I needed v3 to run the Chrome browser. The AT&T browser that came with teh Atrix was awful, but I was stuck with it because AT&T & Moto refused to upgrade the OS and Chrome would not run on my version of Android.

I agree you needed the update. But with all respect, didn't you think about it before buying it ? before getting into contract with AT&T? before getting a Motorola cellphone ? i mean, i never expect my Samsung cellphone to be up to date with the latest android version, If i want that i would get Nexus. I buy samsung knowing i get somethings i get which nexus doesn't provides but also knowing i lose some stuff like updates. And also, i know that someday in maybe a year my S# will be stuck maybe forever on some for then "old" android version. But i bought it last year knowing it. And by the way the resale price after some month tell me about it (in january 2013 it costed me $150 plus contract in december that year they were giving it for free with a $150 credit

May i ask: what's the deal with having the latest OS update right after it comes out ?

Would you feel the same way if your Mac or Windows machine had to wait on the OEM to update the OS for critical security patches?

I mean, if your PC "works as expected," then who cares, right?

Actually, my PC is a win 7 with no SP yet. I just install some updates as they come, i just don't want to bloat my machine again. And yes i think i will remain with it for at least 4-5 years more until windows 9-10 comes out and maybe i will be interested.

And my previous XP lasted until 2010. And it worked great. Since 1997 when i began with computers i've had 5 viruses: two because of floppies (3.5") and the others were browser companions. I don't use firewall btw just avg or avast in some other pc's. I'm under my linux box

But anyway, that's not the point: you can't compare a windows service pack or a single update (politically correct word for "bugfix patch") against a cell phone OS update. Unless it's a major OS flaw which could render your cell phone unusable or zombie, most android OS updates are about improving UX and providing better ways to do something (less space, faster processing, better looking apps, better memory management, etc.). For sure there should be some bug fixing like when a given app always crashes on a given cellphone/OS version. Or for example when Iphone 4 owners couldn't install fb app because they needed OS 6. And even though that's a major OS update which generally means a big architecture change.

And yes, if my pc runs ok, get no viruses, is fast enough and i can run almost all programs and games i can (crysis 2 being the latest - sorry my cpu and video can't support more) i see no reason to change

There is far more than just UX fixes in Android OS updates.

And you will find that, especially here on Ars, where there are mostly tech-savvy people, not keeping your OS up-to-date (especially a Windows OS) is looked upon as extremely foolish, outside of some edge cases for business reasons.

May i ask: what's the deal with having the latest OS update right after it comes out ?

Would you feel the same way if your Mac or Windows machine had to wait on the OEM to update the OS for critical security patches?

I mean, if your PC "works as expected," then who cares, right?

Actually, my PC is a win 7 with no SP yet. I just install some updates as they come, i just don't want to bloat my machine again. And yes i think i will remain with it for at least 4-5 years more until windows 9-10 comes out and maybe i will be interested.

And my previous XP lasted until 2010. And it worked great. Since 1997 when i began with computers i've had 5 viruses: two because of floppies (3.5") and the others were browser companions. I don't use firewall btw just avg or avast in some other pc's. I'm under my linux box

But anyway, that's not the point: you can't compare a windows service pack or a single update (politically correct word for "bugfix patch") against a cell phone OS update. Unless it's a major OS flaw which could render your cell phone unusable or zombie, most android OS updates are about improving UX and providing better ways to do something (less space, faster processing, better looking apps, better memory management, etc.). For sure there should be some bug fixing like when a given app always crashes on a given cellphone/OS version. Or for example when Iphone 4 owners couldn't install fb app because they needed OS 6. And even though that's a major OS update which generally means a big architecture change.

And yes, if my pc runs ok, get no viruses, is fast enough and i can run almost all programs and games i can (crysis 2 being the latest - sorry my cpu and video can't support more) i see no reason to change

There is far more than just UX fixes in Android OS updates.

And you will find that, especially here on Ars, where there are mostly tech-savvy people, not keeping your OS up-to-date (especially a Windows OS) is looked upon as extremely foolish, outside of some edge cases for business reasons.

Not updating Windows 7 because of the "bloat" is laughable.

Yes i've seen that people here is like that. Always wanting the latest updates (although i'm pretty sure most of them ignore the critical bugfixes they contain - just want the new fancy things), calling names to people that don't update to windows 8.1, etc.

That was why i wanted to ask. There's a whole world outside of USA and some other high earning countries where people can i heavily spend on the latest gadgets/pc parts.

And by the way, your response just confirms what i just said/though. When a reply to what i think is a respectful, honest question, includes parts like "... extremely foolish ..." and ".. laughable... " i think there's nothing more to say.

CM11 which doesn't have an official stable release yet (just nigthtlies) won't even boot.

CM11 has had two milestone snapshots (two steps up from nightlies) for the AT&T GS3 (d2att; the SGH-i747). They're incredibly stable.

Which model GS3 are you running that you're having so many issues with? I've run into a few smaller issues with CM10, but never to the point where my phone wouldn't even boot.

My device "just works" with CM11 (as it did with CM10).

Its not just my S3 mind you, every device I have ever put CM on has always has serious issues. Be it hardware that doesn't work, or apps that no longer function, its more hassle than its worth. The plethora of posts in the internet with the same issues (and some replies here even) show that this is not an uncommon occurance.

Currently I have a late model S3 from Verizon. CM10 did not work with it (camera and cell radio broken) until recently (two months?) I tried CM11 last week and it would not even boot (stuck in an endless reboot cycle). If you don't mind "updates" forcing you to reinstall an older version, or hardware support that is hit and miss each version (even on one if the most popular phones in the world) and you just like to experiment, then go right ahead, but it is far, far from a "it just works" solution and likely never will be since its a moving target.

For you. I have no clue why you've had so many issues. For many other people, however, myself included (and at least one other poster in this thread), it's precisely an "it just works" solution.

I don't understand why you're making such a blanket statement when there is demonstrable evidence to the contrary.

[edit]Also, just as with the AT&T variant, the Verizon variant (d2vzw) has two milestone snapshots of CM11 available. These are much more stable than the nightlies. If you're basing your experience on the nightlies, then maybe that's part of your problem.

For you. I have no clue why you've had so many issues. For many other people, however, myself included (and at least one other poster in this thread), it's precisely an "it just works" solution.

I don't understand why you're making such a blanket statement when there is demonstrable evidence to the contrary.

[edit]Also, just as with the AT&T variant, the Verizon variant (d2vzw) has two milestone snapshots of CM11 available. These are much more stable than the nightlies. If you're basing your experience on the nightlies, then maybe that's part of your problem.

Because me, many others on the internet, and many friends of mine have all had similar poor experiences, this means that its not a just works solution. It may just work for some of you with certain versions and hardware, but it's very very hit or miss. It reminds me of Linux. I have used Linux for 12 years exclusively with no real issues to speak of, yet lots of people seem to have issues all the time. Just like Linux is not a just works solution for a large majority, despite my near perfect experience, neither is CM a just works solution for many despite your experiences to the contrary.

Both Google and OEMs should slow down and stop delivering different versions of the same thing so often.

Android updates did not matter to most as they went from 4.1.2 to 4.4.2. Google should do minor updates to Android user level components - security/bug fixes and may be minor feature additions and they should send those out to ALL GMS enabled devices. With all the backwards compatibility and careful changes - that ought to be doable for Google.

Google should come out with major updates once in 18 months - the ones that update the kernel, drivers, adds major features etc. The OEMs should stick to delivering major updates once every 18 months. Users will then get security and bug fix updates - they would go from 5.0 to 5.2.3 for example and get updated to 6.0 once followed by all minor updates to 6.0. That ought to make most people happy.

While posting the link to the CM11 snapshots, I noticed that I was running M2, and the newest is M3. So of course, I updated to M3.

Or at least I tried.

I backed up my device.I installed M3.It failed. I don't even know what happened, but it failed to recognize my SIM card.I tried to restore my backup.It failed.I tried again.It failed again.I sobbed.I tried a few more times.It failed a few more times.

After about six hours between last night and today, I was finally able to format EVERYTHING, and get M3 installed on my device. Now Google is reinstalling my 100+ apps on there, and once that's done, I can start the long process of putting everything back the way it should be.

So yeah... I think Mr. Murphy heard my claim that it always "just works," and decided to punish me for my hubris.

As one far less technically able then you, your story is an example of why I don't root my phone and instead suffer the stock bloatware that Samsung put on it. I am bothered by tech types (not saying you do this) who look down their noses at those of us afraid to try rooting for this very reason, and who DON'T have the expertise to restore or repair if something bad happens.

Knowing what I know now, I would have declined the update.May be late now but if helps anyone else.

Galaxy Note 3, experience.My notes in all contacts deleted, when creating new contacts it is no longer possible to add notes.No longer possible to set reminders for events in Calender.Air View on 'Month' page no longer works, even with S Pen it just shows coloured strips but no details, I can read every appointment on my 'old' Note 1 on the Month page.

There may be more but the phone as a work tool has become pointless and of no further use unless someone knows how to reverse the process, One month old and locked in for two years, we should have the right to return items but who to blame? Google? Samsung? the provider? seems the law determines it's the customer's fault!Where could we have gone to discover the effects?